My Brother’s Keeper, Inc. was founded in 2003 by Harry F. Sydney as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization with a mission to provide Straight Talk and Sound Direction to ALL MEN AND BOYS who lack necessary life-coping skills. All persons are welcome regardless of race, creed, color or ethnic background. Participants range all boys and men ages 8-65 helping them achieve realistic goals. Since our inception, we have helped thousands of boys and men change their lives.
Mission Statement
My Brother’s Keeper is a male mentoring program dedicated to providing Straight Talk~ Sound Direction mentoring services to assist boys and men who are dealing with the hardships of life by helping them live with Integrity, Respect and Standards (IRS Code). We are committed to providing our clients with the knowledge and skills to make positive decisions and changes in their lives. All persons are welcome regardless of race, creed, color, or ethnic background.
At My Brother’s Keeper, Inc. we are honored to serve a population of boys and men in Brown County and surrounding areas. With your support, this important mission will continue. Your support provides exceptional mentoring to every man or boy who is ready to change their lives, and the lives of people surrounding them.
For over 20 years, My Brother’s Keeper has been committed to mentoring boys and creating new opportunities. Successful mentoring provides the boys and men in the program the leadership skills they need to be productive members of OUR community! Mentors transform lives!
One-on-One Mentoring
Clients meet for 45-60 minutes with one of our mentors. Mentoring is not a transfer of wisdom from one to another. It is a relationship where two people grow together. We get to the core issues. Problem areas are identified; causes of the problems discussed; realistic expectations and goals are set and a game plan for change is jointly developed. The clients learn how to see the big picture, to understand what they can and can’t control, and to become accountable and responsible for their actions based upon a philosophy created by Harry Sydney titled “The IRS Code” Integrity, Respect and Standards.
Group Forum Sessions – at Schools and Brown County Juvenile Detention Center
Group forum sessions for at-risk individuals at area schools provide the opportunity to correct problems early. The group sessions deal with issues affecting the young men and help provide the life skills necessary to take control of their lives. The sessions teach them to be accountable for their decisions, make those decisions ethically and honestly, reflect on their course of action, and modify their behavior to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. The sessions teach the students the “Power Tree” – who’s in charge and where the individuals fit. Also, the sessions let them know that they are not alone, and help is available. We help them work through their problems without resorting to delinquent/criminal behavior. Participants of the group forum sessions often are referred to follow up one-on-one mentoring sessions.
The Brown County Juvenile Detention Center group mentoring program offers a unique mentoring opportunity. The group mentoring sessions are conducted each Tuesday morning, which is very early in the detention process. The participants are truly “a captive audience” who are seeing firsthand how their way is working, how they have changed from a name to a number. The Detention Center is where their life choices have gotten them. They are seeing firsthand “their future” if they don’t change their lives. Hopefully this is their wakeup call. But that reality check itself may not be a sufficient deterrent to crime without the tools they need to change their lives and their future. They need to answer the question “When you leave here, what you are going to do differently?” The Straight Talk ~ Sound Direction in the group mentoring is based on My Brother’s Keeper IRS Code – Integrity, Respect, and Standards. The participants learn how to live by and use this code as a tool to help them make sound life decisions, take responsibility for their actions, and change their future.
Alcohol or Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Assessments
AODA assessments are typically a court ordered procedure but are available to anyone concerned with an Individual’s alcohol or drug abuse. Assessments are private and confidential. The AODA assessor meets with the individual to determine the individual’s substance use/abuse. The individual’s lifestyle and choices are examined to help identify problem areas that may jeopardize their home, school, work, or relationships.
Strategies are discussed and goals established to aid the individual going forward to minimize further compromise to his Quality of Life. The AODA assessment is followed by individual mentoring to review the individual’s progress.
Employment Assistance Program
My Brother’s Keeper has partnered with a group of manufacturers and employment agencies. The Vision for My Brother’s Keeper participants is to connect with employers for immediate interviews and placement within a company. The program participants will attend a session that will include resume and interview skills training. When an employment opportunity is available, the final decision to hire is determined by the employer. Continued employment is determined by the client’s performance or employer needs. My Brother’s Keeper employment program is monitored, and the progress is measured with an ongoing relationship with My Brother’s Keeper in weekly or biweekly mentoring sessions.
The impact of My Brother’s Keeper’s program extends well beyond the individuals served. For every life changed, there is also impact on the person’s family, friends, school and work associates, and the community at large.
Testimonials
~ My Brother’s Keeper Saved My Life:
There is an unheralded but vitally important organization in Green Bay.
My Brother’s Keeper and Harry Sydney literally saved my life. Six weeks ago, my
life was in shambles. I had no hopes for my future and nothing but regrets for my past.
Hearing a radio advertisement for My Brother’s Keeper, I decided to make a call. It is
a male-mentoring program for all ages. I scheduled an appointment. After the first
session, I had hope that I could turn my life around. Over the next several weeks,
Mr. Sydney showed me how to accept personal responsibility and taught me concepts like
respect, standards, conviction, integrity, loyalty, and self-confidence. He pointed out the path I’d have
to walk to be a success and a man of character. There are many agencies to help battered women
and abused children; these are bandages on the wounds already suffered. Mr. Sydney’s approach
goes to the heart of the problem, hoping to eliminate the cause of those wounds before they’re inflicted.
I recommend My Brother’s Keeper to anyone who wants to achieve his potential as a man but is unsure
how to do so.
~ A lot of people talk about making a difference, but what Harry is doing is making a real impact on our
community. By teaming up with the Brown County Juvenile Detention Center and various schools in the
area, Harry works directly with the boys and men with a history of making “bad” decisions. he teaches
them about respect, integrity, responsibility, and goal setting. He treats everyone who walks through his door
with honesty and respect. He is willing to talk about anything that will help improve the quality of their lives,
ranging from a teen struggling to fit in, to helping a paroled convict make better decisions and become a productive
member of our community.
~ My Brother’s Keeper logo says it all: Straight Talk ~ Sound Direction. Harry’s endless hours and dedication to
the program, and his genuine passion for making a difference, makes it an honor for me to know and work with him,
and someone all of Green Bay should know and thank him!
~ Harry’s dedication to the boys and men in the program goes above and beyond the long hours at the office.
I have seen him “hit the streets” to help troubled young men. He makes himself available at all hours to anyone in need.